Bill Lajeunesse's Saints boasted a program record five All-MAAC selections

May 9, 2013

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Siena softball head coach Bill Lajeunesse was named MAAC Coach of the Year Thursday night at the MAAC Softball Awards Banquet. Lajeunesse led the Saints to their first MAAC regular-season title in program history this season. Siena also set a program record with five All-MAAC selections including three First Team honorees.

For the second straight year, junior Jessika-Jo Sandrini earned First Team honors as a hitter, and was named to the Second Team for as a pitcher. Joining Sandrini on the First Team were reigning MAAC Co-Player of the Year Shannon Jones and first baseman Paige Lloyd, while Sandrini was joined on the Second Team by outfielder Mandy Ferro and designated player Alyssa Lancaster.

Lajeunesse has led the Saints to 61 wins in his three years at the helm, the most in any three-year span in program history. He guided the Saints to the No. 1 seed in the MAAC Championships after being picked third in the Preseason Poll. The Saints set a program record for conference victories with 12.

Sandrini ranks fifth in the MAAC with a .371 batting average, and second in doubles with 12. She ranks second in the nation having been hit by a pitch 25 times and has posted a robust .500 on-base percentage. Sandrini has won a program record 15 games in the circle this season, tied for the most victories in the MAAC. She has posted a 3.60 ERA, and her 88 strikeouts rank fifth in the conference.

The MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Jones has already broken Siena's career record for hits (227), RBI (153), runs (133) and doubles (48). She is batting .358 and is tied for the team lead with 34 RBI while ranking fifth in the MAAC with 37 runs scored.

A sophomore transfer, Lloyd ranks second in the MAAC in hitting (.371) and tied for third in home runs (eight). She's tied for the team lead in RBI with 34 while hitting predominantly in the ninth spot in the lineup.

Ferro has hit .324 while serving as the Saints' leadoff hitter, and is tied for the team lead in walks (21) and stolen bases (six). Ferro ranks second in program history in runs scored (105) and fourth in hits (159) and stolen bases (27) entering the Championships.

A two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week, Lancaster is batting a robust .369 with 28 runs batted in. She's also made 18 starts in the circle recording 39 strikeouts.

Other major award winners include: Fairfield's Lauren Liseth (Player of the Year), Niagara's Jen Sansano (Pitcher of the Year) and Marist's Nicole Cheek (Rookie of the Year).

Siena also placed six on the MAAC All-Academic Team which is reserved for student athletes who have posted a 3.20 cumulative GPA or better and achieved sophomore standing. They were: seniors Ferro and Jones, junior Samantha Ray and sophomores Abby Carpenter, Stephanie Viggiano and Megan Volz.